Figure 9.

GIMs stiffened seeded hTM cells across all timepoints. Primary hTM cells were cultured in the presence or absence of 100 nM dexamethasone for 4 weeks in complete growth media. Cells were subsequently removed using 20 mM ammonium hydroxide solution to obtain GIMs and vehicle control matrices (VehMs). Earlier passage, fresh primary hTM cells were then seeded on these matrices in 1% fetal bovine serum growth media for 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-day time points. Subsequently, cell mechanics was determined via atomic force microscopy. Cello plots (each data point represents elastic modulus derived from a single force curve; five of such force curves were obtained from a single random cell; total force curves were obtained from at least nine random cells per experimental group) demonstrate hTM cells cultured on GIMs were stiffer at all time points in comparison with those on VehMs. Two-way ANOVA was used to determine the main effects of treatment and time and/or their interaction for VehM versus GIM (n = 3 biological replicates). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 for VehM versus GIM. hTM, human trabecular meshwork; VehM, vehicle control matrix; GIM, glucocorticoid-induced matrix.